Jeff Lehman

Repelling a switch

How can declarer increase his chances that the opponents do not find the winning switch?

That was the issue I had to face on Board 20 of the Saturday evening, July 23 session of a two-session regional pairs at the Toronto NABCs.

West

985

AK3

KQ

JT876

East

Q2

JT9

A653

KQ42

As West, I opened 1 and rebid 1NT over partner’s 1 response.  Partner raised to 3NT and North led the 5.

Clearly, I need to knock out the A.  I was fortunate to have escaped a spade opening lead.  How can I best continue that good fortune when I must let the opponents in once again?

I played a heart from dummy and South followed with the 6 (presumptively right side up count).  I won the first trick with the K, trying to look like a man with AK tight.  I led a club from hand and North hopped with the A, his partner playing the 3.

At the table, not only did I escape a spade switch, but when North returned a second heart (the two), I was back to owning three heart tricks, recovering the trick I intentionally gave away at Trick 1!  Three hearts, three diamonds, and four clubs for +630 was worth 31.5 mps (on a top of 33, I think).

The whole hand:

Dealer:

Vul:

North

A764

Q8752

J92

A

West

985

AK3

KQ

JT876

East

Q2

JT9

A653

KQ42

South

KJT3

64

T874

953


1 Comment

Daniel SkipperAugust 20th, 2011 at 4:44 am

Nice play.

It was an enlightening day when I first really understood that the problem I can see is not the same as the problem the defense can see.

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